Personalising Your Rental Home Easily & Cost Effectively Without Breaking The Rules
It’s no secret that most landlords are not too keen on allowing their tenants to overhaul the decor in their properties. God knows we’ve had this problem when we used to live In London. While this is completely understandable – after all, they do own the property – not being able to put your own stamp on where you live can impact how you feel about the place and how at home you are there.
Perhaps you’re a home renovation show addict and want to be able to apply the same design principles to your own home as you see on these shows? Or maybe you’re someone who has a keen eye for design and sadly isn’t a fan of the way in which your landlord has designed your home? Either way, it’s important that you love where you live.
While renting a home comes with a number of rules, such as not being able to knock down a wall or take up the floors, it doesn’t mean that you can’t make your rental home your own. Renting your home rather than buying doesn’t have to mean that you need to be limited in terms of your design choices.
Read on to discover how you can make your rental home your own without breaking the landlord’s rules.
Decorate the walls
Did you know that you are able to decorate the walls without leaving any long-term damage? In most home design stores, you will find a number of ‘peel and stick’ vinyl stickers known as wall decals, that can be used to change the look of your home. They are available in a wide range of styles and designs and can be easily applied to walls – as well as various other surfaces – to change the design of a room. Best of all, they’re simple and easy to remove and shouldn’t leave any marks on the paint or wallpaper underneath.
Another option is removable wallpaper that can be used to create a beautiful feature wall. It is self-adhesive and easy to apply, plus it doesn’t cause any damage to the surface underneath.
Incorporate accessories to each room
To personalise the space without doing any long-term damage, take advantage of accessories. You would be amazed at just how easy it is to overhaul the look and feel of a room with just a few simple accessories.
Take the living room, for instance. By adding new curtains or a blind, some cosy blankets and throw pillows in a design of your choice, and any ornaments, house plants or candles that you love, you can easily add a sense of personalisation to the space.
Don’t forget wall art – this can make a huge difference to how at home you feel. Whether you have pieces of wall art you’ve bought from your old home, or you have purchased A4 frames to place your favourite art in or to feature family photos, by decorating your walls you should start to feel far more at home. It really is the small things that make all the difference.
Upgrade the light fixtures
Far too often, rental homes come with outdated and unsightly light fixtures. Instead of leaving them in place, take the time to remove them and replace them with fixtures that fit the style of your furnishings and decor.
Taking the time to upgrade light fixtures can have a huge impact on the look and feel of your home, so it’s a job that’s most definitely worth doing. You could even opt to add smart light bulbs to your new home, allowing you to turn them on and off via your smartphone.
Living in a rental property doesn’t have to mean sacrificing on style or not feeling at home. It’s just a case of taking the time to think about how you can put your own stamp on your new house, without breaking the landlord’s rules.
One Comment
Kate Mckenzie
Hi Otilia
I enjoyed reading your tips on decorating your rental home. I have always rented and it feels good to make a place your own even when it technically isn`t. I once painted a rented flat bright orange(a nice cheerful colour I thought), I think the land lord was a little shocked when he saw it but he couldn`t make me change it!